WE have an unc-anny genius not to notice any change in tone, temper and texture of the overall political atmosphere so possessed are we with our programmed inputs like robots. Soon perhaps, we will be entering the animated phase of robotic technology which is in for taking over some human loads, as it is. Only that we are ready candidates for such an unthinking existential transformation. It risks replacing application of human intelligence to be constantly improving not regressing as some other nations are doing before our own eyes.

Remember, Tunisia which heralded the Arab Spring through a self-immolation incident has in a historic vote given a ringing verdict with a message for all democracy-loving people. The voters have chosen secular Nidaa Tounes (Call of Tunisia) party to represent them in parliament over the country's Islamist Ennahda party which has already conceded defeat.

Our political parties are so frozen in their respective public positioning that they cannot look beyond their nose to catch any new signature on their antenna. Thus they fail to attune themselves to any small signal of positivism from the other side. In the process, they deny themselves the opportunity for converting that breezy waft into a wind of change for healing and reconciliation in place of a runaway polarisation.

Nizami's death sentence has provoked three-day countrywide shutdown practically spoiling a whole week. Just a few days ago, we had a hartal, courtesy of some Islamic parties, for no better cause than deciding Latif Siddique's fate as if he is left with any of it at all!

If Jamaati hartal is any foretaste of things to come it is a bitter pill for people to swallow triggering a fear of a series of hartals people are in no mood to tolerate after a long sequel of peace since January this year.

BNP's role is cut out here for a change. The party's chairperson is clearly on record having said to the foreign media that its relation with Jamaat is not ideological but based on electoral consideration. Now is the time for BNP to stand up to its words and de-link itself from Jamaat, in particular not even being mute spectator to Jamaati hartals. It has to take a proactive position, not a reactionary one there, all things considered. Because there is a whole gamut of trial process to be completed and verdicts carried through and BNP in principle is not opposed to war crimes trial.

A little wishful thinking perhaps but one that merits attention if credence is given to reports from the neighbourhood about a perceived extremist design aimed against our two major leaders. It is commonsensical to argue that when major political parties lock their horns stifly the religious far right gets a high wind to their sail.

It is also time for BNP to make amends having rehabilitated Jamaat leaders in the first place. Such a policy went to an extent of making Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mujaheed ministers in the cabinet, their cars flying the flag of a country whose birth they had vehemently opposed. Awami League too at one stage aligned with Jamaat in its movement to establish poll-time caretaker system. Clearly, times have changed.

No tears for Motiur Rahman Nizami, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, who is set to go to gallows, pending disposal of appeal from the defense in due course. He is reaping as he had sowed, quite literally.

Jamaat's strikes do not sit in well with the generosity the AL government has lately shown to the party. The government allowed two days to decide about the funeral arrangements for Ghulam Azam; his Namaj-e-Janaza in Baitul Mukarram marked by a massive gathering of people not witnessed in recent times. This reflected a certain liberal attitude of the government for the dead. Even his son who conducted the Janaza expressed gratitude to the government for its gesture. He did not stop short of mentioning though, that his other brothers did not receive visas to take part in the funeral.

Nizami has had his day in court, perhaps the longest among his colleagues. After twenty-two months of trial proceedings, unforeseen reconstitution of the International Crimes Tribunal, rehearing of the closing arguments and one-and-a-half-year wait before pronouncement of judgment, capital punishment has been handed to him. The long-winded process is testimony to a rigorous legal scrutiny both the complainant and the defense were put through. He has been convicted to death penalty on four counts, not to mention the one he had received in the 10-truck arms haul case and sentenced for life on four other counts. Two charges against him were the most culpable anyone of which would have sealed his fate in a civilised legal system: Formation of Al-Badr and the Gestapo-style elimination of Bengali intellectual wealth hours before our final victory.

Only in August, Stephen J Rapp, then visiting US Ambassador-at-Large for war crimes issues, had expressed satisfaction over the functioning of International Crimes Tribunals. He even singled out the fact for a round of praise that 'the judges had been able to work neutrally without pressure and politics.'

The writer is Associate Editor, The Daily Star.
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